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Post by athompsen on Jun 15, 2003 23:26:08 GMT -5
I've always wondered...what makes a novelty song? Is it just something out of the ordinary, or something that's just plain silly? And what's the difference between a novelty song and a comedy song, if any?
Anyway, here's my list:
Eat It, Like A Surgeon and Smells Like Nirvana by Weird Al
Valley Girl by Frank Zappa
King Tut- Steve Martin
Disco Duck- Rick Dees
Also- does anyone remember Dickie Goodman? I think that's his name? He did a song called "Mr. Jaws". It always have me the creeps, I don't know why...
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Jun 15, 2003 23:48:21 GMT -5
Ya know, athompsen, I wonder the same thing! Certain songs listed in Whitburn's Hot 100 Billboard Hits are listed as Comedy and others are listed as Novelty. And in most cases, they seem interchangable.
Definitely remember Mr Jaws, have it on a re-issue single. Also have his greatest hits which includes Energy Crisis and Flying Saucer.
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Post by jpkansas on Jun 16, 2003 1:59:57 GMT -5
Junk Food Junkie - Larry Groce
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh - Alan Sherman
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Post by Dawn on Jun 16, 2003 6:44:17 GMT -5
That's a good point, athompsen, and I've wondered that myself. This is just a guess, but it seems like many of the novelty songs dealt more specifically with fads and trends of the times. But as Sat mentioned, many of the songs seem interchangeable.
Some of my favorites are:
Disco Duck - Rick Dees
Eat It - Weird Al
Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright III
Amos Moses - Jerry Reed
Pac Man Fever = Buckner and Garcia
Convoy - C. W. McCall
I love Dickie Goodman! I have a few of his songs on 45: Mr. Jaws, Energy Crisis '74, Kong, and Watergrate.
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Post by lora on Jun 16, 2003 11:56:52 GMT -5
Otto Titsling by Bette Midler...if you can call it a novelty song. I also love pretty much anything by Weird Al, especially Amish Paradise.
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Post by Railyn on Jun 16, 2003 21:40:10 GMT -5
Virtually all Al Songs (Faves are: When I Was Your Age, I Lost On Jeopardy, and Gump)
99 Dead Baboons - ??
Fish Heads - Barnes and Barnes
Wet Dream - Kip Adotta
Polka Dot Undies - ??
The Elements - Tom Lehrer
Born In East LA - Cheech and Chong
Goin' Back To Brooklyn - Colin Quinn
I loved those Mr. Jaws and the like songs that took song clips and put them in a different song. I thought they were hilarious!
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Post by Ken on Jun 16, 2003 23:28:48 GMT -5
I think Weird Al has done some of the best examples of the novelty / comedy parody genre . A few faves from over the years:
Earache My Eye - Cheech and Chong
Eat it / King of Suede etc - Weird Al
The Streak - Ray Stevens
King Tut - Steve Martin
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Post by 55dodger on Jun 17, 2003 9:23:22 GMT -5
Convention '72, Luna Trip, Mr Jaws.
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
The Streak, Gitarzan, & other Ray Stevens songs
Wildwood Weed
Many others I can't thing of right now.
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jun 17, 2003 9:33:37 GMT -5
Flying Saucer Parts I and II (Buchanan and Goodman)
They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha (Napoleon XIV)
Purple People Eater (Sheb Wooley)
Transfusion (Nervous Norvus)
Eat It, Like A Surgeon, You Don't Love Me Anymore, Smells Like Nirvana, Just One Minute, I Was Only Fooling, etc., etc., (Weird Al Yankovic)
The Thing (Phil Harris)
The Element Song, The Vatican Rag, Poisoning Pigeons In The Park, We Will All Go Together When We Go, etc., etc., (Tom Lehrer)
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jun 17, 2003 9:36:31 GMT -5
Virtually all Al Songs (Faves are: When I Was Your Age, I Lost On Jeopardy, and Gump) 99 Dead Baboons - ?? Fish Heads - Barnes and Barnes Wet Dream - Kip Adotta Polka Dot Undies - ?? The Elements - Tom Lehrer Born In East LA - Cheech and Chong Goin' Back To Brooklyn - Colin Quinn I loved those Mr. Jaws and the like songs that took song clips and put them in a different song. I thought they were hilarious! Hey Railyn. I responded with my own list before I read yours. I see we both listed The Elements by Tom Lehrer. I'm a chemist. What's your excuse? ;D ;D ;D ;D  |
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Post by Railyn on Jun 18, 2003 0:38:39 GMT -5
Hey Railyn. I responded with my own list before I read yours. I see we both listed The Elements by Tom Lehrer. I'm a chemist. What's your excuse? ;D ;D ;D ;D I don't know. I just thought it was amusing. And I've never had chemistry in my life. I got put into "practical physics" because I'm dyslexic, and deemed unfit for chemistry. I was a member of the Dementia Society back then - not anymore as all local stations have dropped the Dr - but I appreciate anyone who can take something like the periodic table and turn it into entertainment! I love his little side comments about finding it interesting, and about taking notes because there's gonna be a quiz after. |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jun 18, 2003 7:31:18 GMT -5
I don't know. I just thought it was amusing. And I've never had chemistry in my life. I got put into "practical physics" because I'm dyslexic, and deemed unfit for chemistry. I was a member of the Dementia Society back then - not anymore as all local stations have dropped the Dr - but I appreciate anyone who can take something like the periodic table and turn it into entertainment! I love his little side comments about finding it interesting, and about taking notes because there's gonna be a quiz after. Practical physics sounds a whole lot harder than chemistry to me! -- and a whole lot more useful than impractical physics. Would you believe that in grad school a friend of mine and I memorized the entire Elements song? Boy -- what a turn on THAT was with the ladies.   |
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Post by Railyn on Jun 18, 2003 22:08:09 GMT -5
Practical physics sounds a whole lot harder than chemistry to me! -- and a whole lot more useful than impractical physics. Would you believe that in grad school a friend of mine and I memorized the entire Elements song? Boy -- what a turn on THAT was with the ladies. I would think if you had to memorize the periodic table that the song would make it easier - you're talking to a product of Schoolhouse Rock here! I got 100% on my civics exam thanks to that series - in particular the Preamble song, and am a whiz with grammar! As for Practical Physics, it was a niceity, like Practical Math and Practical Writing. It was where they showed you how physics applied to the everyday world, and was mainly designed for students who would be entering the Vo-Tech the following year. I remember doing lots of easy, non-sensical experiments, designed solely (I believe) for the teacher to not have to deal with us. We rolled balls down the hall, bounced super balls off the 2nd floor landing, and timed how fast it took a piece of styrofoam to float down a stream of water. I was in college prep, and it was the only "practical" class I had. They didn't want me in the Chem Lab, and my only other option was (gasp) Taxidermy. My guidance councelor taught it, and even offered to kill the animals for me if that was a problem........   |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jun 18, 2003 22:33:19 GMT -5
I would think if you had to memorize the periodic table that the song would make it easier - you're talking to a product of Schoolhouse Rock here! I got 100% on my civics exam thanks to that series - in particular the Preamble song, and am a whiz with grammar! As for Practical Physics, it was a niceity, like Practical Math and Practical Writing. It was where they showed you how physics applied to the everyday world, and was mainly designed for students who would be entering the Vo-Tech the following year. I remember doing lots of easy, non-sensical experiments, designed solely (I believe) for the teacher to not have to deal with us. We rolled balls down the hall, bounced super balls off the 2nd floor landing, and timed how fast it took a piece of styrofoam to float down a stream of water. I was in college prep, and it was the only "practical" class I had. They didn't want me in the Chem Lab, and my only other option was (gasp) Taxidermy. My guidance councelor taught it, and even offered to kill the animals for me if that was a problem........ The song wouldn't make it easier to memorize the periodic table. With the periodic table, the key thing is not just knowing the elements, but knowing which element goes where. In the Lehrer song, he totally mixes up the order for the sake of alliteration and rhyme. I never knew what "practical"meant in a school subject. Now - that explains the Practical Math line in Chuck Berry's School Day. Taxidermy?? ?? (I hope it was Practical Taxidermy.  ) |
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Post by beatles4ever on Jun 20, 2003 10:52:41 GMT -5
Disco Duck
Ahab the Arab
Little Red Riding Hood
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Purple People Eater
Wildwood Weed
Monster Mash
The Streak
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